Sick leave gap

The Nordland / Lofoten news of the last 48 hours opens on sick leave figures published by Statistisk sentralbyrå (SSB), which place mothers in their twenties well above fathers of the same age. Two regional sporting wins, a yellow weather warning for the north of the county and water leaks reported in a care centre in Bodø round off the period of 17 to 18 October 2026.

Nordland news: more than three times as much sick leave among mothers in their twenties

Figures recently released by Statistisk sentralbyrå show that mothers in their twenties have a sick leave rate more than three times higher than fathers of the same age (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). The same dataset reveals a less expected finding: men who have children take less sick leave than men without children.

Maria Boltshauser, a doctor and mother of young children, links this gap to how the household runs. "I think mothers feel a responsibility for managing both work and life with young children at the same time: keeping the house, the laundry, the morning sandwiches, days out and keeping up with leisure activities," she says (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). She describes a mix of biological realities and intense cross-pressure.

Research conducted notably at Oslo Met shows that women shoulder a large share of what researchers call the "third shift", that is, the domestic and logistical work that is added to office hours (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). It is these figures, and not any individual case, that shape the social week of Nordland county.

Sport: Bodø/Glimt manage things before Naples, Narvik win in overtime

Bodø/Glimt won on the pitch at HamKam fielding a rotated side. Top scorer Anders Helmersen, Jostein Gundersen, Fredrik Bjørkan and Sondre Brunstad Fet all started on the bench: the club plays in Naples on Tuesday in the Champions League (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). The gap in level remained clear despite the rotation.

Ole Didrik Blomberg opened the scoring in the 19th minute, alone at the far post, from a Fredrik Sjøvold cross. The yellows led 2-0 by half-time and controlled the match (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). Blomberg was replaced by Bjørkan just before half-time, apparently injured; the extent of the injury was not immediately known. "If he's avoided a sprain, I hope he'll be available again on Tuesday," said the Bodø/Glimt manager.

In hockey, Narvik beat Ringerike 3-2 in the Elitehockeyligaen after overtime. Ringerike had opened the scoring on the power play after just over five minutes of play, before Narvik equalised five minutes later. After a goalless second period, Narvik took the lead early in the third, Ringerike equalised with ten minutes left, and Narvik scored the winning goal four minutes into sudden death (NRK Nordland / Lofoten).

Weather: a yellow warning for gusts in northern Nordland

A yellow-level warning for strong gusts has been issued for part of Troms and northern Nordland. Meteorologists forecast locally strong gusts in the areas concerned (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). The yellow level corresponds to moderate danger, with a risk of inconvenience and minor damage.

Residents in exposed areas are advised to take the necessary precautions: secure loose objects outside and allow extra time on the road (NRK Nordland / Lofoten).

In Bodø, water has been seeping into a care centre for several years

Avisa Nordland reports on Sunday 18 October that water is entering a care centre (omsorgssenter) in Bodø. According to those quoted by the paper, the situation has been going on for several years. The publication is dated 18 October, at 00:00.

📌 Local briefs

A man in his thirties, from Salten, is missing after a jet ski fell into the sea off Bodø in the night from Friday to Saturday; the searches shifted on Saturday afternoon to a search for a person presumed dead, before being suspended at nightfall, with a plan in place for Sunday (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). Neither occupant was wearing a life jacket when the craft capsized in the dark and strong wind; the woman swam about 200 metres and was found very cold in an open office space by the water (NRK Nordland / Lofoten).

Lofotposten reports on Sunday morning that a missing woman has been found cold and in poor condition (Lofotposten, 18 October).

A resident of Bodø has made full confessions and been sentenced to a long prison term (Avisa Nordland, 18 October). A debt collection agent from Bodø loses large sums (Avisa Nordland, 17 October). The names of the scheduled artists have been revealed (Avisa Nordland, 17 October). Seventeen people are to take part in a fire prevention initiative, and Charlotte and Hanna move from the school bench to the catheter according to portraits published by Lofotposten (Lofotposten, 18 October).

Sources: NRK Nordland / Lofoten, Avisa Nordland, Lofotposten, The Local Norway — Period: 17 October 2026 and 18 October 2026